It might seem simple to think about it like this, but wouldn’t it be fair to say that we are addicted to something if we sin (have bad attitudes or do wrong things) to get it, or we sin if we can’t get it? For instance, if I was an alcoholic, I might lie to my wife to go out drinking, or become angry if not given the chance to go drinking. I am sinning whether I do or don’t get what I want, a very clear indication of addiction.
Furthermore, if I am not getting what I want, I might take my anger out on people around me, people that I am supposed to love. I might yell at them, or be physically violent, or maybe I might even turn to a different substance to satisfy my addiction if I can’t get access to alcohol.
Do you see? I’m sinning to get it, and I’m sinning if I can’t have it.
Going further, how do we know if we are using something wrongly? Again, it might seem kind of simple, but wouldn’t it be fair to say we are using something wrongly if we are using it to meet a need that the particular thing/person, etc. was not designed to meet? If I try to pound in a nail using a screwdriver, I’m obviously using the screwdriver wrongly because it was not designed to pound in nails.
Question 2. What do you think of this quite simple way to tell if we are addicted to something, or if we are using it wrongly?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Based on the above definitions, I can tell you that for many years I was addicted to media, and that I used it wrongly. I would sin by becoming angry, or hurt if I couldn’t get online even for one day (and I know people can become extremely upset if they can’t get online even for one hour). I had my favorite forums to go to, or people to meet or movies to watch (which weren’t good for me) and if I couldn’t get to these things my bad attitude indicated that I was addicted to it.
You see, I was trying to use media to fill a void, an emptiness that I felt, and I would feel hurt or get mad if these things were taken away from me for some reason, or if my access to them was somehow restricted.
Question 3. Based on the above definition, do you acknowledge an addiction to media, or think that you might be using it wrongly? Why or why not? Please describe.
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Rafael writes, “Very good definition. I identified to this: "I was trying to use media to fill a void, an emptiness that I felt, and I would feel hurt or get mad if these things were taken away from me for some reason," Let me give you an example: ALWAYS when I come to my home, I feel a extremely need to see social medias, surfind on internet, see my WhatsApp or a video about something related to my subscribed channels. ALWAYS. My wife sometimes says I love my computer more than I love her.”